Up to an hour after apparentlydying , some cardiac arrest patient role expose an detonation of neural signaling that mirrorsconscious brain activity . Describing this unexpected phenomenon in a new field of study , researchers reveal that many of those who are resuscitated also hold back striking memories of their deaths .
The study authors followed 567 affected role who flatlined at 25 different infirmary in the US and the UK . While doctor have to make for administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation ( CPR ) , the researchers seek to take electroencephalography ( EEG ) reading from the new departed participants , ultimately obtaining clear information from 53 individuals on the doorstep of dying .
Unexpectedly , almost 40 percent of these patients displayed psyche activity in the delta , theta , alpha , and beta ranges , signal potential conscious activity . In most fount , these brainwaves began to appear more than half an minute after patient ’ hearts break beating .
“ Near - normal / physiologic EEG action ( delta , theta , alpha , beta beat ) consistent with cognizance and a possible resumption of a internet - point of cognitive and neuronal bodily process emerged up to 35–60 minutes into CPR , ” compose the study generator .
After receiving the so - called kiss of life from aesculapian staff , 53 participants eventuallywalked out of hospital alert , although only 28 were at long last well enough to be interview about theirdeath experience . In keep with the EEG resultant , around 40 percent of those who founder testimonies claimed to remember inside information of their trial by ordeal , suggesting that they were indeed conscious while technically dead .
For instance , some of those who rejoin from the brink recollected medical events , with one patient saying : “ I remember when I come back and they were putting those two electrodes to my chest , and I remember the daze . ” to boot , 21.4 percentage had what the author call a “ transcendent call back experience of last ” .
“ This reflects a heightened common sense of consciousness with self-contradictory clarity – a meaningful , purposeful review and moral re - evaluation of persuasion , intentions and actions towards others , perceptions of death and a dissimilar , ineffable reality , ” explain the research worker .
“ Although doctors have long think that the brain suffers lasting damage about 10 minutes after the heart stops ply it with atomic number 8 , our work found that the learning ability can show signs of electrical convalescence long into ongoing CPR , ” said survey author Sam Parnia in astatement . “ This is the first large study to show that these recollections and head wave change may be signs of universal , shared elements of so - call in nigh - decease experiences . ”
While the evolutionary function of this foreign phenomenon is unclear , the investigator speculate that such experiences may occur as the brain becomes “ disinhibited ” at the moment of death . This , they say , might provide entree to “ new proportion of reality ” by enabling the sudden recollection of all of the mental capacity ’s stored memories , result in a sound review of one ’s life history .
“ These experience provide a glimpse into a genuine , yet little understood dimension of human awareness that becomes uncovered with death , ” say Parnia .
The study is issue in the journalResuscitation .
